The local coalition Draw the Line created T-shirts to discourage vandalism and discrimination ahead of this year's rivalry football game between Free State High School and Lawrence High School.

With the rivalry football game between Free State High School and Lawrence High School on Friday, a local coalition is taking steps to discourage the vandalism, including a racial slur, that marked last year’s matchup.

In the days leading up to the game, 1,000 T-shirts are being handed out between both schools, provided by the coalition Draw the Line Lawrence, said Jen Jordan, the grant coordinator. The coalition, which encourages healthy behavior in teens, worked with the FYI clubs at both schools to distribute the shirts and promote the message.

The shirts, printed in red for LHS and in green for FSHS, depict both schools’ mascots with top hats and the slogan “Keep it classy Lawrence.”

“The whole idea is to promote it the whole week prior to the game, so they have it in their mind,” Jordan said.

The coalition has also been running ads with the logo and slogan in order to reach community members and parents, Jordan said.

“This is not just a student thing; this is something that has a long history and many times it’s also parents that are supporting unhealthy behaviors,” she said. “We’re hoping to hit from various angles: schools, students, parents, community.”

The campaign also includes vinyl banners for each school with the logos and slogan, which will be hung at rivalry games in all sports now and in the future to help promote healthy behaviors, anti-hazing and anti-discrimination, Jordan said.